The Flamingo Club on Wardour St in London’s Soho flourished during the mid sixties. It was an all night club that catered to the mods from the suburbs of London, the West Indians, and American GI’s on leave for the weekend . The music reflected this mix playing Jamaican ska (which was an early form of reggae), soul and R&B dance music plus very danceable jazz.
There was no official alcohol license, just soft drinks (usually spiked with illicit additives). Mainly the place was fuelled all night by amphetamines and ganja smoked outside. Resident band was Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames maybe the coolest band in England at the time.
Here is their big hit Yeah Yeah played live on Ready Steady Go. Here Brian Epstein introducing them on US television. The drummer here was Hughie Flint who later joined John Mayall to be replaced by Mich Mitchell later of Jimi Hendrix fame. John McLoughlin also played with the Blue Flames.
A brief history of the Flamingo is here. The connection between the Flamingo, Lucky Gordon, and the Profumo affair.
Below-Vol 1– Starting with live at the Flamingo resident band the Blue Flames (1964).
Another regular band at the Flamingo was Herbie Goines and the Nightimers and there is a video of them here. Note John Mcloughlin playing guitar and Speedy Aquiye on congas- who had moved on from The Blue Flames. The pre Jimi Hendrix Noel Redding also played drums at one point.
Geno Washington with the Ram Jam Band was another popular player at the Flamingo along with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.
Below– Zoot Money a regular at the Flamingo with The Big Roll Band at the door, perhaps showing a little too much appreciation for the passers by.
For a bit of the history of this venue see here.
Above Looks like Christine Keeler “at work ” to me .
IF YOU LIKE THESE MIXES THEN YOU MAY ALSO LIKE… Dancing at the Club A Go Go WHICH FOCUSSES ON THE MORE BLUES BASED STYLE PLAYED UP NORTH IN NEWCASTLE.